Alan wrote:
Most of it seems to have come up to Scotland. Over the last few years there
seems to have been substantial increases in rainfall totals particularly in
northern Scotland. Its my impression that there are an increasing number of
Highs over the southern UK leading to increasing frontal activity over the
peripheral areas to the north much of this activity seems to be much slower
moving leading to much higher daily totals: eg over 46mm yesterday.
I would appreciate comments on this perception from more experienced and
informed experts in this group. I have been trying to make comparisons on my
recent data with longer term data from Met Office stations nearby but could
not afford the £1000ish charge which the Met Office were trying to get from
me for monthly temp, rainfall, and wind data from just one site over a 10
year period. Certainly local perception is that there is a lot more heavy
prolonged rainfall as well an increasing frequency of severe gales and
storms than were common over the last 40 years.
Alan
www.carbostweather.co.uk
The rain has not made it's way to this part of Scotland (Aberdeen),
where it has been dry more often than not in recent years. Storms and
gales have also been remarkably few in number (probably related to a
decrease in easterly winds).
Annual rainfall since 1989 at Dyce compared to the 1971-2000 and
1931-60 averages are as follows:
% of 71-00 avg % of 31-60 avg.
1989 62 58
1990 88 82
1991 91 84
1992 102 95
1993 118 109
1994 97 89
1995 109 101
1996 105 97
1997 118 109
1998 109 100
1999 86 80
2000 114 105
2001 102 94
2002 136 126
2003 69 64
2004 97 90
SO while there have been roughly the same number of years drier and
wetter than the 1971-2000 average only 5 of the last 16 years has been
wetter than the 1931-60 average and 2005 will be drier than both
averages. 2002 however was the wettest year since 1923 with an annual
total of 1090mm.
The figures for winter are all the more remarkable with just three,
since 88/89, being wetter than the 1931-60 average and all were colder
than average. I guess the increased frequency of S.W. winds is causing
an enhanced rain shadow effect.
Here are the winter percentages:
% of 71-00 avg % of 31-60 avg.
88/89 36 34
89/90 75 69
90/91 89 82
91/92 47 43
92/93 88 81
93/94 186 173
94/95 103 95
95/96 141 131
96/97 70 65
97/98 93 86
98/99 82 76
99/00 69 64
00/01 130 121
01/02 94 87
02/03 105 98
03/04 101 94
04/05 64 60
Note however the very large percentage for winter 93/94. The actual
total was 380mm making it the wettest winter in Aberdeen since that of
1882/83.
Richard Slessor,
Aberdeen.